UNION boss and husband of Harriet Harman Jack Dromey could be a step closer to taking the Labour candidacy in Wanstead as the party has decided not to have an all-female shortlist, it has been reported.

The Telegraph reported over the weekend that Leyton and Wanstead would be allowing men to stand as candidates for the general election.

Mr Dromey, who is deputy general secretary of Unite, has been linked to the seat since August after incumbent Harry Cohen announced he was stepping down in the wake of the MPs' expenses scandal.

But the selection process in Leyton and Wanstead has been repeatedly held back and the Guardian in December that it had been suspended altogether over unspecified "membership irregularities".

It is currently the only seat in London without an officially selected Labour candidate.

Mr Cohen is stepping down at the next general election after being reprimanded for claiming up to £70,000 for his second home.

He will have to pay back more than £60,000 in wrongly claimed expenses and is facing the loss of a £65,000 "golden goodbye" when he retires.

The MP has a majority of almost 7,000 in Leyton and Wanstead and has said he is stepping down for the sake of his family.